I like seeing things like this. Not because I have anything in particular against Randy Orton, who's been particularly awesome over the last couple of years rounding into his own as a top babyface. Rather, because it shows that WWE is actually commited to its Wellness Policy and doesn't turn a blind eye to top stars. Yeah, Mysterio's been suspended a couple of times, but it's not hard to tell that Mysterio and Orton would be viewed as being on different levels.

It's a tough break for Orton, but presumably it's his fault for messing around with steroids. But now what does Dolph Ziggler do?

This kinda doesn't stink for me. I haven't taken to him in years. I find him one-note in every facet of his presentation, and he simply doesn't work as a face. He got the rub from his finisher, and his tattos continue to look like he fell into a box of Presto Magix.

But ... cripes, SmackDown can't keep a face on that roster. They get Christian and Sin Cara back and lose a marquee figure, the cover boy for last year's video game, right after Jericho is gone. That leaves Sheamus, Bryan, and Del Rio as the biggest SD figures. (Unless Cena appears on SD, one assumes Show is a RAW character now).

Ziggler said he should be where Orton is. Now he can. A win against Del Rio puts him in the high midcard at least. It only takes one such win to build momentum.

Originally posted by El NastioI agree with Chumps, it's good to see no one is immune.

MEANWHILE..... the odds of a Daniel Bryan face turn after the next PPV just went up ten fold, or Zigler goes face.

(edited by El Nastio on 30.5.12 2043)

If No Way Out was closer, I'd say the latter could very well happen. Say Orton got suspended right before the PPV, then they could slap together a backstage segment where Ziggler and the Miz are bitching about not getting booked AGAIN. Ace sends them out there for a match, and they tear the house down. Ziggles would have to play face by default, though, because Miz has fewer redeeming qualities to the audience.

(Great, now I'm thinking of a MiZiggler tag team run, with Swagger going face almost out of necessity.)

But regardless, I can't see them turning either Bryan or Ziggler face right now just because of Orton's suspension. Maybe if they follow up with Monday night's match by having Vickie Guerrero figure out a way to make him happy... by turfing him out of her stable.

Originally posted by redsoxnationSo, does Dixie Carter pray every night now that Randy gets a 3rd violation and has no choice but to go to TNA?

And Rey. Heck, she'd take Chris Masters.

We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.

That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift

Originally posted by redsoxnationSo, does Dixie Carter pray every night now that Randy gets a 3rd violation and has no choice but to go to TNA?

I wouldn't say I'm praying every night, but a part of me does want the guy to get popped again just to see what the WWE will do then.

According to their rules, they'd have to fire him. But what's the rule for re-hiring? As far as I know, that's never really been written in stone. Of course, that assumes that they would actually announce a 3rd strike for the guy if it were to happen.

I hope this wellness violation repeat offense is a signal that "Randy Orton: Guy Who Repeats Everything He Says" is making a return, because that was pretty much my favorite thing in the world.

I'm less interested in the idea of who fills the void with Randy gone (theory: more Cena) than if they explain Orton's absence/write him out. Orton's been directionless for a surprisingly long time now - let's not forget that his biggest feud last year literally started with him walking out on Smackdown and saying "Hey, if everybody's just asking for title shots, can I get in on this?" - considering his place in the company, and I think they could do well to bring him back directly addresing the fact that he hasn't been in the #1A/#2 spot for a while.

But of the changes they could make to fill the void, Miz is probably off the table if he's going to be doing a movie and I can't imagine anyone getting behind Swagger as a face unless they seriously commit to it (and maybe not even then, unfortunately). I'd be all for a test face run for Ziggler, and I'd still even be curious if they'd tease a Del Rio turn, even though I'd probably be the only one. A Tensai turn would probably be interesting here if they play it that he's already lost Ace's favor, and having him hold his own against his replacement in Show (or just losing to Show to build up Cena/Show more) wouldn't hurt anybody and might get the guy somereaction.

I think having them promote Clay or Ryback sooner than they were prepared - or giving Riley some more time - is more likely than any of those, though. And of course, pushing Ryder is the most sensible and least likely option they have available.

If Barrett was due back sooner, he'd weirdly be in a perfect spot to take advantage of heel monster Show, since Show was responsible for his injury. Face Wade Barrett might somehow be stranger to contemplate than even Face Ziggler and Face Del Rio, but if they were ever going to try it, bare-knuckle boxer Wade Barrett going to toe-to-toe with unstoppable monster Big Show would be the best chance they'd ever have.

In the short term, though, Christian stands to benefit the most from an Orton absence, doesn't he?

Originally posted by Dr UnlikelyIn the short term, though, Christian stands to benefit the most from an Orton absence, doesn't he?

They just gave him the IC title though, so he'd have to drop the title and get back to Main Event Face status in a month and a half.

Like you said, if they didn't insist on burying Ryder non-stop despite him gaining a significant following, he'd be able to step in. But they seem pretty insistent on him never being anything more than someone who moves merch and be cannon fodder.

Good point on Miz and the movie, he's out. Ziggler could be a great face in the sense that his selling would work wonders for a face-in-peril, but he does such a good job as a heel it seems almost like a waste. Del Rio won't turn face. Riley STILL gets great reactions, but he must have pissed in someone's cornflakes because he's out.

Still say just bite the bullet, turn Bryan face. His shirt is selling, he's got a chant, just let him be a doucher face.

There is one wild card in all of this. If the dirtsheets are correct, a returning superstar is coming back late June. It's entirely within the realm of possibility that Someone's Gonna Get Their Ass Kicked. #ALLWILLSUFFER